Miss USA Contestant Addresses Why She Traveled to Competition Using Trash Bags as Luggage (Exclusive)

Miss Virginia USA 2026 Justus Kelley posted a picture of herself using trash bags to transport her belongings to the national Miss USA competition on Aug 19. She tells PEOPLE about the meaningful reason behind her decision.

Justus Anye/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

Miss Virginia USA Justus Kelley packed for Miss USA using trash bags and revealed the surprising reason why

Kelley is set to compete next week in the annual Miss USA competition, where she will represent the state of Virginia

Kelley is a foster parent and founder of Foster Footprints, which supports foster youth in the DMV area

Miss Virginia USA Justus Kelley is among the 51 Miss USA delegates making their way to Miami to compete in the annual Miss USA competition, but packing for her big trip looked slightly different than other contestants. In the post shared to her Instagram on Wednesday, Aug. 19, Kelley shared a snap of herself at the airport with her luggage. However, instead of just suitcases, the 31-year-old packed her belongings into a mixture of bags and trash bags.

Justus Anye/Instagram

As for why, Kelley shared this reason in her caption: “Heading to Miami for the 75th @MissUSA with the very type of bag I’ve seen children in foster care transition into my own home carrying,” she wrote. Kelley is a foster parent and the founder of Foster Footprints — an organization that works to “empower” foster youth in the DMV area.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Kelley explains that she and her husband, Tyler, have been licensed foster parents in the Commonwealth of Virginia for nearly two years. “I married my college sweetheart, who shared with me on one of our very first dates that he, too, dreamed of fostering someday. Thirteen years later, we have welcomed children ranging from 7 months to 10 years old into our home,” she tells PEOPLE.

“From the beginning, we knew we wanted to be a safe, loving and welcoming home for children of any age, race, orientation or background. We wanted every child who came through our doors to know that they were safe, valued and worthy of being loved exactly as they are,” she continues.Kelley and Tyler are currently fostering a sibling set — a baby boy and his sister. Kelley calls it a “privilege” to be able to celebrate the young children’s “milestones, first steps and countless little moments.”She also shares that the two children’s biological family has been an “incredible partner in this journey.”While Kelley maintains that the goal of foster care is “always reunification with the biological family,” she shares that she and her husband were asked to become the children’s godparents long-term. “While we may not know exactly what our family will look like in the future, we know we want to continue to be a source of stability and comfort for any child who needs it throughout their journey,” she says.

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Continuing on in her Instagram post, Kelley explained, “The trash bags I carry reflect a reality far too many foster children know all too well. A trash bag should never be a child’s suitcase. Every foster child deserves to carry their belongings with dignity—And I need you to help me make that possible.”She added: “What is going to Miss USA, if not for raising awareness of issues that matter?”Writing to PEOPLE, she adds, “When we say yes to a foster placement, we don’t know what the outcome will be. We don’t know how long they will stay, or what our relationship with them will look like when they leave our home. But we refuse to let the uncertainty keep us from loving them fully. We don’t hold back love or avoid attachment because we believe that is exactly what every child deserves.”

“I consider it one of the greatest honors and privileges to open our home to children who need one, and to remind them, however long we get to be their family, that they were always worth loving,” she concludes.The pageant queen will take the stage at the 2026 Miss USA competition, the finale for which is set to take place on Aug. 27 in Miami, where she, along with the other 50 contestants, will hope to clinch the national title.

Justus Anye/Instagram

The 31-year-old hails from Arlington, Va., and holds a bachelor’s degree in community health and a master’s in public health administration from Indiana University. She’s an adviser at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and her philanthropic work centers around championing the foster care community.Along with her work raising awareness for her work within the foster care community, Kelley has been documenting her journey to Miss USA, breaking down how she plans to attend the pageant and compete in the most cost-effective way.

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